Action Unlimited

Worcester Chamber Music Society
Presents Annual Free Family Concert March 8

January 15, 2026 Worcester, MA – Worcester Chamber Music Society (WCMS) is thrilled to present its Annual Free Family Concert on March 8, 2026, with a performance at 3:00pm at Mechanics Hall in Worcester. Neighborhood Strings students will perform at the beginning of the concert. Admission is free, but tickets are required.
This year’s Family Concert is brought to you by the letter F. An afternoon of fairy tales, fables, family, friends, and fun is sure to delight the children in your lives (as well as your inner child). Four hands on one piano provide the musical setting for Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite. Navok’s Beauty and the Beast is the world premiere of a fantastic musical retelling of the classic fairy tale. Be sure to reserve your seats early because this one-time-only concert will reach capacity soon.
Sunday, March 8 @3PM
Mechanics Hall
321 Main Street, Worcester
Generously sponsored by Bay State Savings Bank, Cornerstone Bank, Fidelity Bank, Unibank, and Country Bank. This concert is also funded in part by grants from the Shrewsbury Arts Council and the Worcester Arts Council, local agencies funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
Program
A special performance by Neighborhood Strings Maurice Ravel | Mother Goose Suite
Lior Navok | Beauty and the Beast – world premiere performance

Featuring WCMS musicians:
Peter Sulski, violin
Mark Berger, viola
Ariana Falk, cello
Randall Hodgkinson, piano

With guests:
Lilit Hartunian, violin / Leslie Amper, piano
Venue is handicapped accessible.
Admission is free, but tickets are required. Reserve early, since this event typically sells out quickly.
Tickets are available at https://worcesterchambermusic.org/fairy-tales-and-fables/ or by calling the WCMS office at (508) 926-8624.

Boston CASA Seeks Volunteers to Advocate for Foster Youth in Suffolk and Middlesex Counties

Virtual information session to take place on January 27 for those interested in joining the spring training cohort
BOSTON, Mass. (January 22, 2026) – Boston CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) is issuing an urgent call for volunteers to advocate on behalf of children in the foster care system. Currently, only 15% of eligible foster youth in Suffolk and Middlesex Counties have access to a CASA — a trained, court-appointed volunteer who provides consistent, one-on-one support and helps shape critical legal and life decisions.
“Imagine facing judges, rotating caseworkers, and endless transitions as a child, without one adult focused solely on what's best for you," said Nicole Stewart, Executive Director of Boston CASA and a former foster youth. "That's what foster youth experience. A CASA changes that equation. We're looking for volunteers prepared to show up consistently, advocate fiercely, and be the person a child can count on."
With virtual information sessions beginning January 27, Boston CASA encourages compassionate adults across the region to attend an upcoming session to learn how they can make a life-changing difference for a child.

What CASAs Do
Unlike mentors or service providers, CASAs are appointed by a judge to focus solely on the best interests of a child in foster care. Each CASA is matched with one child or sibling group and builds a consistent, trusted relationship by meeting with them regularly and staying involved for the duration of the case.
CASAs collaborate with teachers, doctors, foster parents, attorneys, and caseworkers to ensure the child’s needs are met, advocating for essential services, educational support, healthcare access, and permanent housing. They often become the one consistent adult in a child’s life, helping navigate a complex and ever-changing system.
CASAs are asked to commit at least 18 months to the role. Initial training requires 30 hours, with 12 hours of ongoing education each year. Once assigned to a case, volunteers typically dedicate 10 to 15 hours per month to their CASA work.

Why It Matters
The need is urgent:

Only 50% of foster youth graduate from high school
Fewer than 4% earn a four-year college degree
Nearly half experience homelessness by age 26

According to a national study, 92% of judges say CASAs improve outcomes for children, and 83% say CASAs help ensure children receive essential services. But when a youth has a CASA, they are more likely to succeed in school, access vital services, and secure a stable, permanent home.
Eligibility Requirements

Have a deep desire to make a difference in a child’s life
Be 21 years or older
Commit to at least 18 months of service
Ability to meet with youth 1-2 times a month at their home or in community
Approach difficult situations with compassion and diplomacy
Keep personal beliefs separate from their advocacy role

Children in foster care come from all backgrounds, and Boston CASA is committed to building a volunteer community that reflects that diversity. While all are welcome to apply, we’re especially seeking volunteers who speak additional languages, identify as people of color, are men, or are part of the LGBTQ+ community. Your lived experience can make a powerful difference in a child’s life.

Upcoming Info Sessions
Attending an information session is required to apply for the organization’s next volunteer training cycle, which begins in the spring. These sessions will give you an overview of the organization and our work, the application and interview process, as well as more details about the training required to become a CASA.

Sessions will be held virtually on Zoom:

Tuesday January 27 12-1:00pm (Last info session before the March training)
Tuesday February 10 5:30-6:30pm

Sign up for an upcoming information session HERE. Research shows that just one consistent adult can change a child’s trajectory. For more information or to register for an info session, visit: https://bostoncasa.org/

NASHOBA SYMPHONIC BAND FEATURES TRUMPET RHAPSODY

The Nashoba Symphonic Band, under the direction of David Wayne Bailey continues its 10th Anniversary season on Saturday, February 7th at 2 pm in the auditorium of Nashoba Regional High School, Route 117 in Bolton MA (GPS says Green Road). The concert is entitled “On Your Toes,” with most of its selections related to forms of dance.

The program opens with the ragtime dance, Ragged Rozey by veteran band composer Karl L. King, and continues with Warren Benson's haunting Solitary Dancer, and the captivating Italian Polka by Sergei Rachmaninov, scored by Erik Leidzen for the world-famous Goldman Band.

The featured work on the program is the Rhapsody for Trumpet and Wind Orchestra by Armenian composer, Alexander Arutiunian, performed by the NSB first chair trumpet player, Joseph Cosgrove.

The second half of the program opens with Choreography by Robert Sheldon. Sheldon's Wolves of Nashoba, commissioned by NSB, was premiered in May of 2025.
The program concludes with a rousing set of Symphonic Dances from Jerry Bock's timeless “Fiddler on the Roof.”

For further information, contact David Bailey (baileydavidwayne@gmail.com),
Nashoba Symphonic Band is a program of the Nashoba Regional High School. It is supported in part by grants from Ashby, Berlin, Bolton, Lancaster, and Stow Cultural Councils, local agencies supported by the MA Cultural Council, a state agency.

All Nashoba Symphonic Band events are free and open to the public.

Worcester Chamber Music Society Presents February 1 Concert in Worcester

January 20, 2026 Worcester, MA – Worcester Chamber Music Society continues its 20th Season with a concert titled “Shadow & Light” at Assumption University’s Jeanne Y. Curtis Hall on February 1, which features distinguished guest artist Edwin Barker, former longtime principal bass of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. A reception will follow the concert. Two talented female composers shine brilliantly on this concert, having emerged from the shadows of obscurity. Sofia Gubaidulina defied the Soviet authorities’ artistic demands and was virtually unknown in the West until the 1980s. Despite favorable comparisons to Ravel, Bloch, and Debussy, Rebecca Clarke languished in obscurity until only recently. Wildly popular in its time, Beethoven’s septet in some ways stole the spotlight, overshadowing in his lifetime what he considered some of his greatest works.
Sunday, February 1 @4PM
Jeanne Y. Curtis Hall, Assumption University
500 Salisbury Street, Worcester
Pre-concert talk @3:30 PM
Program
Sofia Gubaidulina | Sonata for Double Bass and Piano
Rebecca Clarke | Piano Trio
Ludwig van Beethoven | Septet
Venues are handicapped accessible.
Tickets are available at https://worcesterchambermusic.org/shadow-and-light/ or by calling the WCMS office at (508) 926-8624.

Upcoming Events at 19 Carter - A Nonprofit and Unique Gathering Place in Berlin, MA

19 Carter Street, Berlin

Weekly Events: Suggested donation $5

Monday: A Politics-Free Tea Time 2 - 4pm
Turn off your TV and stop by for 2 hours of pleasant tea and pleasantries, pastries with good company, and no politics!
Tuesday: Armchair Meditation 8 - 8:30am
Wednesday: Coffee Hour 9am - 12pm
Wednesday: Office Hours with Melissa (Director of the Berlin COA) 10 – 11am (Every 1st and 3rd Wednesday)
Wednesday: Old Time Music Jam 11am – 1pm (every 2nd and 4th Wednesday)
Wednesday: Irish Session 7 - 10pm
Thursday: Afternoon Games 2 - 4pm
Friday: Open Art Studio & Coffee Hour 9am - 12pm
Friday: Fiber Arts Group 2 - 4pm
Saturday: Social 10am - 1pm
Office Hours w Senator Kennedy’s team Every second Wednesday of the month at 11am – 12pm

Visit 19Carter.org for tickets, registration + more info!
We frequently add new upcoming events :)

FEBRUARY 1-7, 2026

Sunday, February 1, 2pm | Music and Stories from Little House on the Prairie
Come enjoy the tunes Laura Ingalls Wilder loved and find out more about the music that was so popular with the pioneers. Cost: Free!

Monday, February 2, 4:30pm | Social Singing with Music Includes
Music Includes brings people of all abilities and identities together for inclusive, high-quality musical experiences. Join us in a safe, joyful space to share songs of all kinds. Select Mondays from Jan 19 - April 27. Register at nacc.net. Learn more at ldfamusic.com/music-includes.
Monday, February 2, 7:30pm | Open Mic for Comics
Join us for our monthly, laid-back night of comedy brought to you by OMP Productions and the Carnival Personnel Podcast. Comics can sign up for a stand-up slot in advance by emailing openmicpain@gmail.com. Audience welcome! Ages 18+ Suggested donation: $5

Tuesday, February 3, 6pm | Book Launch: When Did We See You? A Lenten Reflection on Poverty and Wealth
Berlin resident Reverend Dr. Elizabeth Mae Magill invites us into an honest conversation about faith, money, and community, posing hard questions about poverty, wealth, and what it means to follow Jesus in an economically divided world. Cost: Free!

Saturday, February 7, 11:30am | Veg Group: Cooking with Plants!
This month guest speaker Tracy Zook will talk about plant foods and recipes especially delicious in February! Suggested donation: $5

17th Annual UCC Boxborough Folk Coffeehouse

Saturday, January 31, 7 – 9 p.m.
723 Massachusetts Ave, Boxborough

Save the date! Nothing could be better than shaking off the dark winter chills and enjoying warm, gentle music in the Gathering Room at the United Church of Christ, Boxborough, with friends on a Saturday evening (7 - 9 p.m.).
The UCCB Music Committee invites you to enjoy the many talents of our community and perhaps offer some talents of your own in a traditional folk “coffeehouse” setting. This event is intended to slow us down, warm us up, and bring us together as appreciators of music.
Please contact Peter Senghas (pwsenghas@gmail.com) or Steve Griffin (sgri617@comcast.net) if you would like to participate or if you have a question about this event.

Summer Camp & Kids Activities Fair in Westford on February 7

Local parents looking for information on summer camps and kids’ activities will find over 25 programs at the Summer Camp & Kids Activities Fair in Westford on Saturday, February 7. The Fair will take place at Orchard Church, 130 Littleton Rd (Rt. 110), Westford MA from 11 am to 1:30 pm.

Coordinated by Macaroni KID Lowell, the Summer Camp Fair is free to attend. Families can gather information and talk with representatives from local and overnight camps, summer programs, and local schools offering year-round activities such as sports, STEM, coding, art and more. There will also be kids' activities and giveaways.

Camps exhibiting at the Summer Camp Fair include local favorites such as Good Pickin' Farm, Camp Massapoag, and Teamworks Adventure Camp as well as specialty and overnight camps such as Grotonwood, The Story School, Third Space Kitchen, and Camp Stonewall. Macaroni KID Lowell also has an online Summer Camp Guide on its website (Lowell.MacaroniKid.com) as a resource for parents who cannot attend the Camp Fair.
For a list of camps attending the Fair, please visit Macaroni KID Lowell at https://lowell.macaronikid.com. Exhibitor requests and other requests for information can be directed to barbarae@macaronikid.com or (978) 239-3038.

Divorce Support Group by Remote Meeting

Are you thinking of separating or going through the divorce process? The Metro-West Boston Divorce Support Group is a confidential peer-support group with no religious affiliation. Men and women from all towns are welcome. Our group has been meeting in Acton for decades. Now we are continuing weekly on Thursday evenings by remote videoconference. For more information, call Doreen 617-957-0838 or contact paulbaker01@verizon.net

Free Help Filing Your Taxes

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide provides tax assistance, free of charge, with a focus on taxpayers who are over 50 and have low to moderate income. You don't need to be an AARP member to use the service. Since 1968, Tax-Aide has helped over 82 million taxpayers receive all the credits and deductions they're entitled to. Our volunteers are IRS-certified every year, so they understand the latest changes and additions to the tax code. We can prepare and e-file both Federal and state tax returns.

Every year, from early February to mid-April, our volunteers take appointments at host sites around the country. Check with your local senior center or use the AARP Tax-Aide Service Locator Tool at aarp.org/money/taxes to find a site near you.

Fresh Start Furniture Bank

Www.freshstartfurniturebank.org

Happy New Year!
Fresh Start Furniture Bank in Hudson served 596 families in 2025! That’s almost 600 families who had been homeless and not only found housing through agencies but were given everything they needed to make those homes warm and welcoming. Everything from bed and bath linens to silverware, dish sets, and small appliances to rugs, couches, dressers, dining tables and chairs - all at no cost to them and through the generosity of donors like you! A lot of donors showed up today and a Girl Scout troop assembled and donated dozens of kitchen starter sets for our clients.
We are always looking for more volunteers; Fresh Start Furniture Bank is a warm and welcoming and rewarding place to work. Take a look at our website (above)and join the family! You’ll be happy that you did!
Donations of household items (linens, small appliances, kitchenware, lamps, etc.)can be brought to us at 16 Brent Drive, Hudson, MA on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 8:30-noon. Furniture can be accepted on Thursday mornings from 8:30-10:30 and household items until noon. Donated items do not need to be new but they need to be in good shape. If you wouldn’t give it to a good friend, don’t give it to our clients!
You will find lists of most needed items on our website, and links to Amazon and Target Wishlists under Other Ways to Donate.
Let’s make it a happy new year for more families! Thank you!

Upcoming Events at the CCA

The Chelmsford Center for the Arts is located at 1A North Road, Chelmsford, MA

January 24th: Y2K Night from 8:00-11:00 pm. In the auditorium. Live out your early 2000's fantasy at our first ever Y2K NIGHT! Dress up in your best Y2K attire and dance all night to your favorite pop hits from the the year 2000 and beyond, curated by a live DJ. Full bar available. Tickets $20, one drink included in your ticket! AGES 18+ ONLY.

January 26th: Folk Music Open Mic at 7:00 pm Join us in the Cabaret Cafe for an evening of acoustic fun! This monthly event, hosted by Doug Kwartler, is perfect for folk performers and listeners alike. FREE ENTRY! Full bar and snacks available. Donations accepted.

February 1st: Membership Drive for the CCA Champions from 3:00 - 5:00 pm. In the Cabaret Cafe. The CCA Champions invites all who love the Chelmsford Center for the Arts to come to its premier event! Attendees will enjoy delicious cookies, cupcakes and cocoa while meeting the brand new CCA Champions and discovering the benefits of becoming members. The CCA Champions is a nonprofit organization with a mission to support the CCA through advocacy, promotion, and fundraising. Join us to celebrate our love of the CCA and all that it has to offer!

February 7th: On Bleecker Street: A Simon & Garfunkel Tribute at 7:30 pm. In the auditorium. Doors open at 7:00 pm. Two sets with one 15-minute intermission. Regular tickets $30, $25 for students and seniors. Learn more about the band at www.onbleeckerstreet.com.

February 9th: The Heart of Winter: Readings from the CCA Writers Group at 6:00 pm. In the Cabaret Cafe. A free staged reading, featuring original seasonal material from the Chelmsford Center for the Arts Writers Group.

THE CITY I KNOW: Michael S. Veira Gallery Exhibit Running January 7th - March 1st Artist reception this Saturday (1/10), from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. Beginning on Wednesday, January 7th, we will be opening our next exhibit in the Gallery – "The City I Know", a collection of paintings by artist and local, Michael S. Veira. This installation reflects the beauty and character of our neighboring city, Lowell, turning familiar streets and buildings into a study of time and place. The Gallery will be open to the public for viewing every Sunday from 1:00-4:00 pm through the installation's close on March 1st. A public artist reception will take place this Saturday (1/10) from 1:00-4:00 pm. Refreshments will be available for purchase.

Joy of Paint: January Class Signups & Winter Watercolor Class Signups NOW OPEN!
Knitting with Marion: Tuesdays and every other Saturday from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.
Free meditation class: Sunday mornings from 10:00-11:00 am, as well as Wednesday afternoons from 4:00-5:00 pm.
Chelmsford Town Hall Winter Market Every first & third Saturday from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm in the Town Hall Gymnasium Runs from November through May!

Visit https://www.chelmsfordarts.org/ for tickets or more information.

Westford Chorus Presents a Program of "Members' Favorites" February 1

For its midwinter concert this year, the Westford Chorus presents a program of "Members' Favorites."

The concert will be performed on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at 4:00 PM, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 170 Old Westford Road, Chelmsford, MA. Tickets are available at westfordchorus.org or at the door. Ticket prices are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors (65+) and $10 for students. Children under five will be admitted for free. The venue is accessible. If you can't attend in person, register at westfordchorus.org for a link to the recording.

Jim Barkovic, Music Director, explained the origin of the unusual program: "It all started at a rehearsal last spring. I set out a pen and a pad of paper and invited the Chorus members to write their favorite pieces or genres of choral music. An extraordinary thing happened—the members filled THREE PAGES with their favorite choral pieces! As a result, in this concert you'll get to experience many of the Chorus members' faves—a list representing 450 years of choral music!"

Since its founding in 1983, the Westford Chorus has transcended the boundaries of community chorus by performing diverse and challenging works ranging from Mozart's Requiem to P.D.Q. Bach's The Seasonings, from Renaissance polyphony to Spanish Christmas carols, from Carl Orff's Carmina Burana to 1940s swing, to costumed productions of favorites such as Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance, Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro, and Bizet's Carmen. The Chorus has sung with orchestral backup, 18-piece swing bands, jazz combos, and eclectic world music groups.

Westford Chorus is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization funded by members and supporters and supported in part by grants from the Westford Cultural Council and Chelmsford Cultural Council, local agencies supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

A Benefit Concert for the Purchase of a New Organ

On Sunday, January 25th at 4 p.m. organist Katherine Ou will perform an organ concert at The Lutheran Church of the Savior. Katherine has been serving as the organist for four years. She began her training at the age of 13 in Waco, Texas.

The program will include a seldom-heard but dazzling baroque chorale partita by Georg Dietrich, an inspiring Organ Sonata, a work by living British composer Tom Scott, the stirring “Variations on The Star Spangled Banner" by Dudly Buck and "Yankee Doodle" by New England organist Fred Feibel.
Admission is free. Reservations are not required. There will be a light reception following the concert and a Freewill Offering to help purchase a new organ.

Location: Lutheran Church of the Savior, 426 Davis Road, Bedford, MA

On Bleecker Street: A Simon & Garfunkel Tribute Saturday, February 7th

Chelmsford Center for the Arts On Bleecker Street: A Simon & Garfunkel Tribute Saturday, February 7th at 7:30 pm. Led by Fred Krug and Brian Crane, this acclaimed cover band performs everything from greatest hits to deep cuts, all with stunning accuracy. Saturday, February 7th at 7:30 pm in the auditorium. Regular tickets $30, $25 for students and seniors.

ABOUT THE BAND: Fred Krug and Brian Crane met in high school over 30 years ago where they discovered a shared love of music in general, and of Simon & Garfunkel in particular. They have been singing together ever since. Krug and Crane have headlined multiple concerts-in-the park around the greater Susquehanna region (Danville, Lewisburg, Eagles mere). They have performed sold-out shows at the Booth Theater, and have entertained at standing-only private events at the Villages in Florida. Audiences have been delighted and moved by a tribute to the music that defined much of the folk music of the 60’s.

Facebook: Chelmsford Center for the Arts Instagram: @chelmsfordarts www.chelmsfordarts.org Chelmsford Center for the Arts | 1A North Road | Chelmsford, MA 01824

The Chelmsford Republican Town Committee is Hosting:

ATTENTION: LINCOLN/REAGAN DINNER
WHEN: January 31, 2026, 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: American Legion, 90 Groton Rd., North Chelmsford
SPEAKER: Mike Minogue, Candidate for Governor
PRICE: $35 per person donation (Includes appetizers, dinner and dessert)

RSVP no later than Jan. 23rd to: Mary Gail Leonard, marygail.leonard@aol.com, 978-918-8261

$200,000 GLCF Emergency Food Grants Reach 80,000+ Residents as Organizations Report Unprecedented Demand

LOWELL, MA – One month after the Greater Lowell Community Foundation distributed $200,000 in emergency food grants to 15 organizations across its 21-community service area, impact statements reveal the unprecedented scale of food insecurity gripping the region – and the critical role these funds are playing in meeting exploding demand.

In Massachusetts, nearly 800,000 residents – including 240,000 children – face food insecurity, with working families increasingly unable to afford basic groceries despite employment. According to Feeding America’s 2024 Map the Meal Gap study, 11.2% of Massachusetts residents struggle with food access as grocery prices have risen 25% since 2020 while wages have failed to keep pace (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). In Greater Lowell’s 21 communities, thousands of employed residents now earn too much to qualify for SNAP benefits yet too little to cover rent, utilities, and food – creating a modern “working poor” crisis affecting families throughout the region.

The 15 grant recipients collectively serve more than 80,000 individuals each month, distributing millions of pounds of food through pantries, meal programs, home delivery services, and school-based initiatives. Their impact statements paint a vivid picture of communities in crisis – and organizations working at maximum capacity to respond with compassion and efficiency.

Crisis-Level Demand Surge

Organizations across the region reported unprecedented increases in need:

Project Kompass serving Lowell's under-resourced Jackson-Appleton-Middlesex neighborhood, reported shocking increases in working poor families unable to afford nutritious food despite full-time employment.
Bedford Food Bank saw demand surge 60 to 70% from the previous year, now serving 220-250 households weekly and distributing approximately 9,000 pounds of food each week.
PACH (Pepperell Aid from Community to Home) distributed 76,665 pounds of food in 2025 – a 23.5% increase from 2024 – serving 212 households representing 1,473 individuals.
People Helping People in Burlington enrolled 31 new clients since the government shutdown, putting strain on financial resources for essential staples like milk, eggs, bread, and fresh produce.
Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry opened its doors to federal employees impacted by the shutdown, supporting over 60 additional households.

“These grants represent more than emergency funding – they represent our community’s commitment to ensuring no family faces hunger alone,” said Jay Linnehan, President and CEO of Greater Lowell Community Foundation. “The impact statements we’ve received demonstrate both the severity of this crisis and the extraordinary dedication of our partner organizations responding with compassion and efficiency.”

Working Families Priced Out of Grocery Stores

Tracy, volunteer coordinator of the Open Pantry of Greater Lowell, understands the issue of food insecurity isn’t just a problem for “poor” people. “Anyone can find themselves here at the pantry in need of food. Anyone. Nobody should be embarrassed. We are here to help, no matter your circumstances.”

Merrimack Valley Food Bank’s Operation Nourish program delivers food weekly to every Lowell public school. School personnel report that entire families are now seeking help through school food pantries. “There has been an uptick in pantry use and phone calls from parents asking for food,” reported Lowell public school personnel. “Parents often start their phone calls by apologizing for their circumstances, either a layoff, or cost of living increases that price out groceries. One parent called in and pleaded, ‘We have nothing. Anything, and I mean anything, would help.’”

Jennifer Aradhya, GLCF’s Vice President of Marketing, Programs & Strategy, emphasized the Foundation’s ongoing commitment: “The impact statements we’ve received confirm what we knew – this crisis demands sustained response. Every organization is working at maximum capacity with unprecedented compassion and efficiency. Our role is to ensure they have the resources to continue this essential work to help anyone in need, including these hardworking families in our community.”

What Families in Massachusetts Should Know About Their School Options

By Andrew Campanella

All parents in Massachusetts and across America want their children to thrive in learning environments that reflect their diverse interests, talents, and individual challenges.

That’s why one in five parents last year enrolled at least one of their children in a new K–12 school. In fact, the process of moms and dads actively choosing how and where their children learn—often referred to as school choice—reached a five-year high in 2025.

Meanwhile, more than 60% of parents say they are likely to consider a new school for at least one of their children in 2026—suggesting another active year for families making enrollment decisions. What that means for your family depends, in large part, on where you live.

In Massachusetts, parents have more education options than they may realize. In addition to assigned traditional public schools, the Bay State has taken steps in recent years to give families more flexibility in choosing schools.

Within the public education system, tuition-free schooling options include charter schools (available in some areas), theme-based magnet schools (available in select communities), and full-time online schools with district approval. In some districts, parents may also be able to send their children to traditional public schools outside of their zones, if seats are available.

Parents can also consider private schools, which charge tuition and sometimes offer scholarships to help make private education more affordable. Finally, Massachusetts moms and dads have the freedom to educate their children at home, and some families pair homeschooling with learning pods or Montessori-style microschools.

If you want to explore these education options in advance of the 2026–27 school year, the time to begin that process is now. National School Choice Week begins January 25, with 265 school events across Massachusetts, including school fairs, open houses, parent nights, and information sessions.

Before starting your search, it can help to pause and write down your goals for your child and what you want in an ideal learning environment. Doing so helps center the process on what—and who—really matters: your daughter or your son. When possible, visit schools and schedule tours or meetings with staff. Research shows that parents who visit schools in person are twice as likely to enroll their children in a new school as parents who search without touring or visiting.

During those visits, ask questions. One of the most common mistakes parents make is accepting education jargon—of which there is plenty—at face value. If you do not understand a term, a reference to curriculum or instructional methods, or a school policy, ask for clarification until you do. You may also want to talk with other parents about their experiences, while keeping in mind that their perspectives are shaped by their own child’s unique needs.

And remember: you know your child better than anyone else. When it comes to your child’s well-being, you are the expert. Finding the right school is not about choosing what works for everyone—it’s about choosing what fits your daughter or son best.

To access a free guide to K–12 school choice options in Massachusetts, visit https://myschoolchoice.com/massachusetts.

Andrew Campanella is the CEO of the National School Choice Awareness Foundation, the nonprofit organization that coordinates National School Choice Week, Navigate School Choice, and Conoce tus Opciones Escolares. He is also the author of The School Choice Roadmap: 7 Steps to Choosing the Right School for Your Child.

Tom Denney Nature Camp Register Now!

The camp in Bolton is for students entering Kindergarten through High School.
Activities include swimming, games in the fields and woods, arts & crafts, songs, tracking, hiking, campfires to roast hot dogs and marshmallows, building shelters, Animal Adventures, Predator and Prey, Amazon Adventure & more.
Campers entering grades 6th-9th in the Eco Adventures program will play kayaking games on the pond, nighttime activities on Thursday and dinner and s'mores, water guns, an adventure hike, team building activities & more.
Counselors-in-Training must be entering 9th grade or above and attend Orientation June 23-25 and then choose two weeks or more to be at camp.
There are 6 weekly sessions that run June 29 – August 7, Monday - Friday, 9am - 3pm.
After Care is available until 4:30pm.
Campers from all towns are welcome!
See the website for more details and to register: tomdenneynaturecamp.org
Questions: bcttdnc@gmail.com (best means of communication) or 978-245-6929 (voice mail)

Groton Grange Contra Dance February 7, 2026

Groton Grange #7 invites you to our traditional New England Contra Dance on Saturday, February 7, 2026 from 7:30 - 10:00 PM , at Historic Groton Grange Hall, 80 Champney Street. This will be an evening of live music and dancing with Groton's own Contra Banditos, along with caller Dudley Laufman, who will teach traditional New England style contra, square, and line dances to the beat of old time fiddle tunes. Beginners are welcome, no experience or partner is necessary. Suggested donation at the door is $5.00 per person, children under 3 years old are free, and family maximum is $20. Made possible by a grant from the Town of Groton lecture Funds. Refreshments are provided. Bring your soft soled dancing shoes .Parking allowed only on the Grange side of Champney St.

Nashoba Valley Neighbors Event on January 24

Looking for a fun evening?

Join the Nashoba Valley Neighbors for a wine tasting and warm winter meal, with lots of fun people interested in an evening out and a nice dinner at a local restaurant. The NVN are joining a wine tasting at The Westford Wine & Spirits in Westford at 5 pm Saturday, January 24, and dinner at the nearby Evviva Trattoria at 6:30. Please feel free to join us for either or both, but we ask that you respond by Thursday, January 22 at noon.

If you would like more information, or to join us, please RSVP to info@nashobavalleyneighbors.org

The Nashoba Valley Neighbors Club is a non-profit social organization open to new and established residents from such town as Acton, Boxborough, Chelmsford, Groton, Littleton, Westford, Maynard, and Harvard, but we welcome any residents in the surrounding communities that are looking to explore new interests and to make connections with new friends.

Find us on Facebook or visit the Club’s website at http://www.nashobavalleyneighbors.org for more
Information. We hope to see you!

Habitat for Humanity NCM Celebrates Home Dedication in Leominster

Leominster, MA – Thursday, January 8, 2026 — Due to inclement weather, Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts rescheduled the Home Dedication Ceremony at 75 Tenth Street in Leominster for Thursday, January 8. During the ceremony, Habitat for Humanity NCM proudly presented the keys to Gwen and her family, officially welcoming them into their new home.
This home is the result of strong community partnerships and generous support. Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts expresses sincere appreciation to the many supporters who helped make this home a reality, including:
City of Leominster; North Central Massachusetts Housing Authorities; Amica; Law Office of Attorney David Rocheford; McCarty Companies; Brideau Energy; EXIT Assurance Realty; Architect Luke McKneally; Wells Fargo; City of Leominster Housing Department; City of Fitchburg Housing and Development; Adobe; Charlesbank Homes; MMBA; Whirlpool; North Central Massachusetts Community Foundation; IC Credit Union; and Granite City Electric.
A special thank you is extended to the students and instructors at Leominster Center for Technical Education Innovation for their hard work and dedication, as well as Hannaford and AllTown Fresh for generously providing delicious treats for the celebration.
“Today is a powerful reminder of what is possible when a community comes together with a shared purpose,” said Carolyn Read, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts. “This home represents stability, hope, and opportunity for Gwen and her family, and we are deeply grateful to our partners, volunteers, and supporters who made this moment possible.”
Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts offers a hand up, not a hand out to hard-working, low-income families seeking affordable homeownership. Affordable homes are built in partnership with families, donors, and volunteers who share our vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.
We wish Gwen and her family a lifetime of happiness and cherished memories in their new home.
Looking ahead, Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts will begin construction on a multifamily home in Acton very soon. For more information or to learn how to get involved, please contact our office.

Divorce Support Group by Remote Meeting

Help Support People Affected by Domestic Violence in Our Communities

CONCORD, MA – Domestic Violence Services Network, Inc. (DVSN) is pleased to announce a FREE Volunteer Advocate Training program for interested community members. DVSN advocates provide emotional support, risk assessment and safety planning for victims of domestic violence in our 13 partner communities.

The 40-hour training is designed to familiarize volunteers with the many aspects of domestic violence and give them the skills necessary to provide confidential and appropriate services to DVSN’s clients. Once trained, DVSN’s volunteer Advocates provide direct service over the phone, at Concord District Court, and at Emerson Hospital to people affected by domestic violence.

The March 2026 training will be held at the Lexington Police department starting on March 2 through
March 20: Monday and Wednesdays from 4:00 PM to 7:15 PM and Fridays from 9:15 AM to 3:30 PM. For those who decide to activate as volunteer advocates, there is an additional 10 to 12 hours of supervised field training at the completion of the classroom segment.

The training is provided at no cost to attendees. All necessary materials will be provided. For more
information about the training or to request an application, call (978) 318-3421 or send an e-mail to
training@dvsn.org. Applications are due no later than Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
To learn more about DVSN and its programs, services, and events, visit DVSN.org.

DVSN member communities: Acton, Bedford, Boxborough, Carlisle, Concord, Lexington, Lincoln, Maynard, Stow,Sudbury, Wayland, Weston and Hanscom Security Forces.

Sing & Dance at Suzanne Buell’s PCA Gospel Connection 1/17

WESTFORD, MA: Don't miss a stunning musical experience when local favorite Suzanne Buell brings an extraordinary group of singers and musicians in the most recent evolution of her Gospel journey through traditional spirituals and stirring gospel music! To be held at Parish Center for the Arts (10 Lincoln Street) on January 17, 2026 at 7:30pm, this event’s tickets are $20 for Members; $22 for non-Members; and $25 at the door (if available). Seating will be cabaret-style. BYO food and drink. Doors open one half hour prior to the show. Advance reservations are recommended. Visit pcawestford.org to reserve your seats.
In The Gospel Connection, not only does Suzanne Buell explore the roots of the traditional spiritual and historic gospel that defined the Civil Rights movement, but also the musical connections that inspire contemporary artists. Buell, a former Stax recording artist and graduate of Boston Conservatory, leads this project with a 7-piece band including David Hunte on keyboard and vocals, Phil Antoniades on drums and percussion, Mike Payette on bass and vocals, Chris Leadbetter on guitar, mandolin and vocals, Vicki Zelski on vocals, Russell Watts on vocals, and Buell on lead vocals. In their repertoire, you’re likely to hear music by artists like Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Mavis Staples, Aretha Franklin, and Bob Dylan. The concert is a celebration of the musical traditions that is a must-see for fans of gospel music and history. You'll be moved to dance and sing along - both of which are strongly encouraged.
A graduate of Boston Conservatory and manager of the Threshold Singers at Groton Hill Music, Suzanne Buell appears as a regular soloist in the Boston Pops Gospel Choir and the Millennium Gospel Choir. Her CD “Tell the World” was recorded in Memphis (TN) in 2001. She is a featured lead vocalist in several professional bands locally and records for Hundreds Records.
Direct Ticket Link: https://parisharts.square.site/product/1-17-26-the-gospel-connection/JYRC47DIWI4Z6V632NFU7NCD

Facebook: facebook.com/ParishCenterfortheArts
Twitter: twitter.com/PCAWestford
Instagram: instagram.com/pcawestford

Parish Center for the Arts
978-692-6333

Upcoming Events at the CCA

The Chelmsford Center for the Arts is located at 1A North Road, Chelmsford, MA

January 15th: Chelmsford Children's Chorus Concert at 6:00 pm. Join us in the auditorium Chelmsford Children's Chorus "We Are Change" concert. This concert is a celebration of young voices and their power to make positive change in today's world.

January 24th: Y2K Night from 8:00-11:00 pm. In the auditorium. Live out your early 2000's fantasy at our first ever Y2K NIGHT! Dress up in your best Y2K attire and dance all night to your favorite pop hits from the the year 2000 and beyond, curated by a live DJ. Full bar available. Tickets $20, one drink included in your ticket! AGES 18+ ONLY.

January 26th: Folk Music Open Mic at 7:00 pm Join us in the Cabaret Cafe for an evening of acoustic fun! This monthly event, hosted by Doug Kwartler, is perfect for folk performers and listeners alike. FREE ENTRY! Full bar and snacks available. Donations accepted.

February 1st: Membership Drive for the CCA Champions from 3:00 - 5:00 pm. In the Cabaret Cafe. The CCA Champions invites all who love the Chelmsford Center for the Arts to come to its premier event! Attendees will enjoy delicious cookies, cupcakes and cocoa while meeting the brand new CCA Champions and discovering the benefits of becoming members. The CCA Champions is a nonprofit organization with a mission to support the CCA through advocacy, promotion, and fundraising. Join us to celebrate our love of the CCA and all that it has to offer!

February 7th: On Bleecker Street: A Simon & Garfunkel Tribute at 7:30 pm. In the auditorium. Doors open at 7:00 pm. Two sets with one 15-minute intermission. Regular tickets $30, $25 for students and seniors. Learn more about the band at www.onbleeckerstreet.com.

February 9th: The Heart of Winter: Readings from the CCA Writers Group at 6:00 pm. In the Cabaret Cafe. A free staged reading, featuring original seasonal material from the Chelmsford Center for the Arts Writers Group.

THE CITY I KNOW: Michael S. Veira Gallery Exhibit Running January 7th - March 1st Artist reception this Saturday (1/10), from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. Beginning on Wednesday, January 7th, we will be opening our next exhibit in the Gallery – "The City I Know", a collection of paintings by artist and local, Michael S. Veira. This installation reflects the beauty and character of our neighboring city, Lowell, turning familiar streets and buildings into a study of time and place. The Gallery will be open to the public for viewing every Sunday from 1:00-4:00 pm through the installation's close on March 1st. A public artist reception will take place this Saturday (1/10) from 1:00-4:00 pm. Refreshments will be available for purchase.

Joy of Paint: January Class Signups & Winter Watercolor Class Signups NOW OPEN!
Knitting with Marion: Tuesdays and every other Saturday from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.
Free meditation class: Sunday mornings from 10:00-11:00 am, as well as Wednesday afternoons from 4:00-5:00 pm.
Chelmsford Town Hall Winter Market Every first & third Saturday from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm in the Town Hall Gymnasium Runs from November through May!

Visit https://www.chelmsfordarts.org/ for tickets or more information.

Prevent a Winter Blood Shortage: Give Blood or Platelets Now

Donors have chance to win trip to Super Bowl LX during National Blood Donor Month
Red Cross, Saquon Barkley huddle up for a lifesaving play in January

BOSTON, Jan. 5, 2026 — The American Red Cross is teetering on a blood shortage this winter, which could lead to a disruption in lifesaving care. Donors are urged to make an appointment to give blood or platelets now.

The Red Cross blood supply is under pressure following a busy holiday season when winter weather and packed schedules made it even tougher to ensure hospitals have the blood products needed for critical care. Without immediate action, doctors may have to make difficult decisions about which patients receive blood transfusions and who will need to wait. Donors with types O, A negative and B negative blood are especially needed now.

Don’t wait – make an appointment to give blood or platelets now by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

For the seventh year, the Red Cross and the National Football League (NFL) are partnering in January for National Blood Donor Month to urge individuals to kick off 2026 with a blood donation. As a thank-you to donors for helping address the need for blood during the critical post-holiday time, those who come to give Jan. 1-25, 2026, will be automatically entered for a chance to win an exciting Super Bowl LX giveaway. The winner and guest will get to enjoy Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California, access to day-of in-stadium pregame activities, tickets to the official Super Bowl Experience, round-trip airfare, three-night hotel accommodations (Feb. 6-9, 2026), plus a $1,000 gift card for expenses. For full details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/SuperBowl.

Join a lifesaving team
The Red Cross and Pro Football Champion and blood donor Saquon Barkley are teaming up to remind donors that the best offense against a winter blood shortage is making and keeping blood donation appointments. The blood supply can drop quickly – now’s the time to get in the game and give blood or platelets.

"I gave blood once in college and that was the only time I had ever been asked to give, until the Red Cross reached out this fall,” said Barkley. “It was a no-brainer for me to give again. It only takes about an hour and once you realize in that short amount of time how much help it can bring – it’s a beautiful thing."

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Jan. 5-31:

Chelmsford
1/12/2026: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Chelmsford Town Hall Gym, 50 Billerica Road

North Chelmsford
1/8/2026: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Chelmsford American Legion, 90 Groton Road
1/27/2026: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Chelmsford American Legion, 90 Groton Road

The Acton Community Chorus Presents Our Winter Concert, I Hear The Stars Still Singing

The Acton Community Chorus presents our winter concert, I Hear The Stars Still Singing, a constellation of contemporary choral music contemplating the stars and the ways they guide our lives, featuring a multi movement work by Kenneth Riggs called "Starlight Songs", plus written works by other living composers such as J. Michael Saunders, Jacob Narverud, Susan LaBarr, and Victor C. Johnson. The concert will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2026 at 4pm at the Acton Congregational Church with an inclement weather date of Sunday, January 11th at 4pm. Tickets are available through the link on our website or at the door. There will be a reception following the concert. Every year we seek out a community partner to support, and this season we are partnering with NAMI of Central Middlesex County. They will have volunteers in attendance to share the resources they have for individuals and families living with mental health conditions. The Acton Community Chorus is a nonprofit organization supported in part by grants from the Acton Boxborough, Concord, Littleton and Stow cultural councils which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a State agency.

The Acton Community Chorus invites all area singers to attend our Open Sing for our Spring 2026 Concert Movie Night. We will be featuring iconic songs from iconic movies including My Heart Will Go On, Both Sides Now, Danger Zone, Bohemian Rhapsody, (I've Had) The Time of My Life, and so many more! We will meet on January 26, 2026 at 7:30pm at the Faith Free Evangelical Church 54 Hosmer Street in Acton, MA. Please see our website www.actoncommunitychorus.org for more information about our vibrant choral group that has been bringing choral music and friendship to the Assabet Valley area since 1984!

Psychosis Program

"Psychosis Unveiled" is an in-person presentation for people living with symptoms of psychosis and those who love them. Join the local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and speakers from the MA Psychosis Access & Triage Hub (M-PATH). Join us on Monday, January 26th, at the Edinburg Center, 205 Burlington Road, Bedford MA, rear entrance. The event kicks off at 6:30 PM with dessert & social time. At 7:00 PM the presentations begin. Learn more about the program and please RSVP here: namicentralmiddlesex.org/newsletter/psychosis.

Motor Development in Babies 0-18 Months

A free live webinar presented by pediatric physical therapist Christina Marinelli from Emerson Health, will be held via Zoom on Thursday, January 29, 1-2:00. Babies begin progressing both gross and fine motor skills from birth. They are the building blocks to your baby's ability to explore their environment as they grow. In this webinar, you will learn 1) what typical development looks like, 2) general tips and strategies to support baby's skill acquisition, and 3) helpful resources for continued learning. Time for questions will be allowed. To receive the link, email lmatthews@jri.org at First Connections.

Divorce Support Group by Remote Meeting

Are you thinking of separating or going through the divorce process? The Metro-West Boston Divorce Support Group is a confidential peer-support group with no religious affiliation. Men and women from all towns are welcome. Our group has been meeting in Acton for decades. Now we are continuing weekly on Thursday evenings by remote video conference. For more information, call Doreen 617-957-0838 or contact paulbaker01@verizon.net

Upcoming Events at the CCA

The Chelmsford Center for the Arts is located at 1A North Road, Chelmsford, MA

*NEW!* December 21st: Sunday Jazz Jam from 1:00-3:00 pm. In the Cabaret Cafe. Join us in the Cabaret Cafe for a music-filled Sunday afternoon. Beginning at 1:00 pm, the Arthur Bakopolus Jazz Quartet will play a short set. After the performance, the stage will be open to any and all jazz musicians who wish to perform.

December 28th: The Lied To's Concert at 7:00 pm. In the Cabaret Cafe. The Lied To’s are Susan Levine and Doug Kwartler, a local folk-rock duo of award-winning singer-songwriters. The Lied To's have played at a number of festivals and venues, including many shows at the legendary Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. With special guest, Chris Lavancher! Tickets $20, doors open at 6:30 pm.

January 2nd: Karaoke Night from 7:00-10:00 pm. In the Cabaret Cafe. $5 entry. Doors open at 6:30, full bar available!

*NEW!* January 3rd: Janelle's Dirty Basement Comedy Show at 8:00 pm In the Cabaret Cafe. Join us for yet another evening of raunchy hilarity in the Cabaret Cafe. Along with Janelle, enjoy the comedic stylings of nationally recognized comedians. Tickets $20 online, $25 at the door.

*NEW!* January 4th and 5th: Auditions for "An Evening of Nonsense" Auditions for "An Evening of Nonsense", presented by Charlie Smith. Featuring five original short comedies, don't miss your chance to be part of this hilarious production! Auditions January 4th at 1:00 pm and January 5th at 6:30 pm in the Cabaret Cafe. Actors need only attend one day of auditions, and sides will be provided at auditions. Performances May 8th and 9th in the CCA auditorium.

January 9th: Sober Karaoke at 7:00 pm. Sponsored by the Chelmsford Health Department. Free entry!

January 15th: Chelmsford Children's Chorus Concert at 6:00 pm. Join us in the auditorium Chelmsford Children's Chorus "We Are Change" concert. This concert is a celebration of young voices and their power to make positive change in today's world. Hear inspiring performances from our kindergarten through seventh-grade singers and experience the world premiere of We Are Change, a new song composed in collaboration with internationally-recognized composer Jim Papoulis and our singers.

January 24th: Y2K Night from 8:00-11:00 pm. In the auditorium. Live out your early 2000's fantasy at our first ever Y2K NIGHT! Dress up in your best Y2K attire and dance all night to your favorite pop hits from the the year 2000 and beyond, curated by a live DJ. Full bar available. Tickets $20, one drink included in your ticket! AGES 18+ ONLY.

Joy of Paint December Class Signups & Winter Watercolor Class Signups NOW OPEN!
Knitting with Marion: Tuesdays and every other Saturday from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.
Free meditation class: Sunday mornings from 10:00-11:00 am, as well as Wednesday afternoons from 4:00-5:00 pm.
Chelmsford Town Hall Winter Market Every first & third Saturday from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm in the Town Hall Gymnasium Runs from November through May!

Visit https://www.chelmsfordarts.org/ for tickets or more information.

NASHOBA VALLEY CHORALE 50TH ANNIVERSARY WINTER CONCERT

Program Highlights:

“Hallelujah!” The Nashoba Valley Chorale is celebrating its 50th Anniversary Season with a concert on Sunday, January 18, 2026. The performance will include music by Bach and Britten and will close with Beethoven’s magnificent Mass in C, featuring four professional vocal soloists and full orchestra. The concert’s repertoire “reflects the different aspects of our history and showcases where we are now,” says Anne Watson Born, the group’s musical director.

Event Details:

January 18, 2026, 3pm at the Groton-Dunstable Performing Arts Center (344 Main St., Groton, MA)

Ticket Information:

Pay-what-you-can; available at www.nvcsings.org

The Nashoba Valley Chorale is well known throughout Central Massachusetts and draws singers from towns in the heart of Nashoba Valley, as well as from all over the metro-west Boston area and southern New Hampshire. For more information about the Nashoba Valley Chorale and our season concerts, visit https://nvcsings.org/

Blood Drive

GIVE THE MOST SPECIAL GIFT, without needing to shop!
Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Chelmsford at 242 Boston Road
is hosting another Blood Drive with the Red Cross on Saturday December 27th from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Interested Donors can sign up at redcrossblood.org

Christmas Eve Services at Aldersgate UMC

Aldersgate United Methodist Church invites you to worship with us at the following Christmas Eve services:

Children’s Service at 4:00 p.m. – A shorter service geared toward families with younger children. This service includes the retelling of the Christmas story.

All-Ages Service at 7:00 p.m. – A traditional service of scriptures and carols, including the candlelight singing of “Silent Night.” This service will also be livestreamed and recorded for later viewing.

Candlelight and Communion Service at 10:00 p.m. – A meditative service of scriptures, carols, and Holy Communion. The service will conclude with the candlelight singing of “Silent Night.”

Aldersgate UMC is located at 242 Boston Road (Rt. 4), Chelmsford. For more information, contact the church office at (978)256-9400 or aldersgatechelmsford@verizon.net, or visit us online at www.aldersgatechelmsford.com or www.facebook.com/aldersgateumc.chelms.

Chelmsford Food Pantry Christmas Week Hours

Christmas and New Year Week Hours

Pick up hours:
Monday December 22nd: 2 PM to 4 PM
Tuesday December 23rd: 5 PM to 7 PM
Wednesday December 24th: 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM

Food drop off hours:
Monday December 22nd: 6 PM to 8 PM
CLOSED REMAINDER OF Christmas and New Year week
REOPEN ON JANUARY 7TH TO NORMAL HOURS

Discovery Museum Announces Free Events for Visitors with Disabilities and their
Families for January to June 2026

Especially for Me events offer free Museum access and dedicated hours for families that would benefit from a sensory-friendly experience.
ACTON - Discovery Museum announced upcoming dates for the first half of 2026 for the Especially for Me series of free events for families and groups with members who may have a disability, including sensory sensitivities, visual impairments, learning differences, and/or hearing loss.
The popular events offer accommodations that increase access to and enjoyment of the Museum’s ADA-compliant facilities. Because admission is free, families may come and go based on their needs without concern for cost. Visitors also have the chance to meet others in similar circumstances, thereby reducing feelings of isolation and judgement by others often described by families dealing with special needs. A medical diagnosis is not required to attend.
All Especially for Me events are free to attend, but preregistration is required. Dates and registration links can be found online at http://bit.ly/EspeciallyforMe.
January to June 2026: Especially for Me Event Schedule
Inclusive Afternoons, Tuesdays 1:30 to 4:30pm Museum is open to the public, but lower visitation is expected.

January 6, February 3, March 3, April 7, May 5, June 2

Special Evenings, Saturdays 5:00 to 8:00pm Museum is closed to the public. Dinner, including a gluten-free option, is provided at no cost.

Autism-Friendly Evening – January 10
Evening for Deaf, Blind, or DeafBlind – January 31
Inclusive Evening – February 28, March 21, May 16, June 27
Mask On, Play On! – April 11
Morning for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and KODA visitors – date tba

Discovery Museum’s campus is ADA-compliant and all exhibits are accessible, designed according to Universal Design principles to be both aesthetically pleasing and usable by the widest possible range of people, without regard to age or ability.
Special resources are always available including noise-reducing headphones, a Social Story and Sensory Map (both online and on-site; available in eight languages), and a designated “Take a Break” space. American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters may be requested during registration. Parking is always free and dinner, including a gluten-free option, is provided at all evening events.
Especially for Me is part of the museum’s Open Door Connections program to provide opportunities for those who face a variety of barriers—financial, developmental, or cultural—to experience the Museum.
Especially for Me is made possible by DCU for Kids, with additional support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

HAPPY Holidays from Fresh Start Furniture Bank

Www.freshstartfurniturebank.org

The Fresh Start family would like to wish you all a happy and safe holiday season. Our shelves and stockroom and display areas are pretty well stocked now, thanks to donations from so many people in the area who responded to our specific requests for linens and kitchen items and furniture.
At present what we need most is MONEY to pay our bills and to buy mattresses and to keep our truck fueled and maintained. If you can help, please click on the link above and look for the big green DONATE button. You can donate online with PAYPAL or with Venmo and you can always bring or send a check payable to Fresh Start Furniture Bank at 16 Brent Drive, Hudson, MA 01749. Your donation is tax deductible.
Thank you for helping us to help others. We supply furniture and furnishings at no charge to prequalified clients coming out of homelessness. Please help us to keep doing what we do so well.

Groton Grange Contra Dance January 3, 2026

Groton Grange #7 invites you to our traditional New England Contra Dance on Saturday, January 3 ,2026 from 7:30 - 10:00 PM , at Historic Groton Grange Hall, 80 Champney Street. This will be an evening of live music and dancing with Groton's own Contra Banditos, along with caller Don Heinold, who will teach traditional New England style contra, square, and line dances to the beat of old time fiddle tunes. Beginners are welcome, no experience or partner is necessary. Suggested donation at the door is $5.00 per person, children under 3 years old are free, and family maximum is $20. Made possible by a grant from the Town of Groton lecture Funds. Refreshments are provided. Bring your soft soled dancing shoes .Parking allowed only on the Grange side of Champney St.

Beacon Santa Needs Your Help!

We know it’s a big ask.
With the economy in flux, unemployment on the rise, grocery prices still too high, every dollar is being stretched as tight as possible.
But if you can spare a few dollars for the Beacon Santa, we will make sure the money goes to put a smile on a young child’s face.
Every dollar that you donate will help a family in need.
“Working overnight is great when you have small children who need you to be home during the day. But also impossible, with small children, when the other parent is gone on random military assignments and not home to watch them,” writes one mother of five young children.
All she wants is some money to take her children shopping for clothes.
“Although things are getting better and we are solely focused on improving our finances, for our children’s sake, the holidays fast approach and we cannot celebrate without help, so please choose our home, Santa,” she writes.
The Beacon Santa Fund, which originated in 1965, raises money to give holiday gift cards to families in 12 communities: Acton, Boxborough, Billerica, Bedford, Concord, Chelmsford, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Maynard, Stow, and Westford.
Beacon Santa turns once again to its readers, without whose generosity some families will not receive holiday help. Donations are tax deductible, of course.
A final note, so that would-be donors can feel assured that their good intentions actually do good. The Board of Directors are all volunteers. Donations are intended entirely to help families in need; no funds are ever diverted for member stipends or salaries.

How to donate
By mail: Beacon Santa Fund, c/o Middlesex Savings Bank, Maynard Crossing, 7 Digital Way, Maynard, MA 01754
Online: Through PayPal, https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1541809. A PayPal account is not needed to donate.
New this year, you can donate through Venmo: @beaconsanta1965

Night Lights Voted #1 Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights Display in the Country!

New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill is thrilled to announce that Night Lights was named the winner of the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Award for Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights. Thank you to our wonderful community for taking the time to help the Garden earn this national recognition. We look forward to the rest of this year's dazzling displays (tickets are still available) and hope you’ll join us in experiencing this award-winning event!
Visit https://nebg.org/ for more information.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts & Gillette Bring “Mentorship in Action” Flag Football Event to Inspire New Mentoring Relationships

BOSTON, FOXBORO, Mass. - On December 7, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts (BBBSEM) and Gillette partnered for a unique “Mentorship in Action” Flag Football event that brought together youth, volunteers, and New England Patriot Quarterback and Gillette athlete Drake Maye, New England Patriots Wide Receiver and BBBSEM ambassador DeMario Pop Douglas and Patriots Hall of Famer Rob Ninkovich for a day of sports and community engagement. Held on the field at Gillette Stadium, the event highlighted the importance of mentorship, offering a fun opportunity for prospective volunteer mentors to get involved while making a lasting impact on local youth.
The event kicked off with a lively pep talk from BBBSEM President & CEO Mark O'Donnell and Pat the Patriot, the official mascot of the New England Patriots. This spirited opening set the tone for a day full of energy and connection. Ninkovich, Maye, and Douglas also joined the action, each participating as a "Big for a Day" to underscore the power of mentorship and encourage others to volunteer. The event marked Douglas’ official debut as a BBBSEM ambassador.
Over 25 current BBBSEM matches, along with youth on the organization’s waiting list to be matched with their mentors, took to the field for drills, skills clinics, and friendly flag football games. The day was designed to foster new connections and inspire potential Bigs to begin their own mentoring journeys.
“We’re incredibly excited to partner with Gillette and bring attention to the critical need for mentorship in our community,” said Mark O'Donnell, President & CEO of BBBSEM. “This event not only gave us the chance to showcase the power of mentorship but also provided an opportunity for new volunteers to experience firsthand how they can make a meaningful difference in the lives of young people.”
The event featured several key moments, including a speaking program, a skills clinic, and a series of flag football games, which gave participants the chance to demonstrate teamwork and leadership. The day concluded with a heartfelt recognition ceremony, thanking volunteers and mentors for their dedication to youth empowerment.
The BBBSEM event was one of ten flag football experiences happening across the country as part of a larger national partnership between men’s grooming brand Gillette and Big Brothers Big Sisters.Through this partnership, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Gillette are coming together to bring more mentors into the lives of young men through the unifying power of sports.
BBBSEM continues to grow its impact, matching over 4,000 youth annually with caring adult mentors. The event underscored the organization’s mission to defend the potential of children and to create a community where every young person has access to the guidance and support they need to succeed. Mentorship is a necessity and through sports, connections across cultures and generations are made, helping to build a more unified, inclusive society.
“We are committed to ensuring that every child has the support of a caring adult mentor who can help them reach their full potential,” said O'Donnell. “Today, we’ve seen the impact that such mentorship can have, and we hope this event inspires even more people to step forward and become Bigs.”
For more information on how to volunteer, or to learn more about BBBSEM’s programs, visit www.emassbigs.org.
About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts is an innovative, energetic organization that is making a real difference in the lives of over 4,000 youth annually by providing them with an invested, caring adult mentor in long-term, professionally supported relationships. With research and proven outcomes at its core, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts is working to defend the potential of children facing adversity and ensure every child has the support from caring adults that they need for healthy development and success in life. The organization’s vision is to inspire, engage and transform communities in Eastern Massachusetts by helping youth achieve their full potential, contributing to healthier families, better schools, more confident futures and stronger communities. Throughout its 76 years, the largest Big Brothers Big Sisters affiliate in New England has created and served more than 25,000 youth. For more information about the agency and its mission, visit www.emassbigs.org..

Red Cross Responds to Multiple Fires Across Massachusetts
During Busy Holiday Weekend

BOSTON, December 2, 2025 – Volunteers and staff with the Red Cross of Massachusetts responded to multiple fires over the holiday weekend and continue into today with two large fires overnight in Holyoke.
Friday through Monday, volunteers responded to more than 15 home fires across Massachusetts. Volunteers responded to a gas leak in North Andover Monday, and at fires in Amherst, Chicopee, Framingham, Haverhill, Holden, Holyoke, Hyde Park, Mashpee, Milford, North Attleborough, Salem, Shelburne, Springfield, South Boston, West Springfield, and Waltham. In all, volunteers assisted more than 75 people, with more to be assisted following two fires in Holyoke overnight.
Red Cross volunteers respond to more than 700 fires annually in Massachusetts, distributing financial support to residents burned out of their homes. Volunteers supply the most important services – comfort. Volunteers help people cope with disaster through mental health services, advice on next steps and as neighbors who understand disasters.
The Red Cross is able to support our neighbors through the power of volunteerism and the generous support of financial donors.
For more information about volunteering, visit redcross.org/volunteer. To make a financial donation to support our work, visit redcross.org/donate.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.

Upcoming Events at the CCA

The Chelmsford Center for the Arts is located at 1A North Road, Chelmsford, MA

December 12th: Sober Karaoke at 7:00 pm. Sponsored by the Chelmsford Health Department. Free entry!

December 18th: Somewhere Stories: CCA Writer's Group Book Launch at 6:00 pm. Join us for a celebration of the CCA Writer's Group first ever published work, Somewhere Stories in the Cabaret Cafe! Excerpts from the book will be read, with copies available for purchase.

January 2nd: Karaoke Night from 7:00-10:00 pm. In the Cabaret Cafe. $5 entry. Doors open at 6:30, full bar available!

January 9th: Sober Karaoke at 7:00 pm. Sponsored by the Chelmsford Health Department. Free entry!

January 15th: Chelmsford Children's Chorus Concert at 6:00 pm. Join us in the auditorium Chelmsford Children's Chorus "We Are Change" concert. This concert is a celebration of young voices and their power to make positive change in today's world. Hear inspiring performances from our kindergarten through seventh-grade singers and experience the world premiere of We Are Change, a new song composed in collaboration with internationally-recognized composer Jim Papoulis and our singers.

January 24th: Y2K Night from 8:00-11:00 pm. In the auditorium. Live out your early 2000's fantasy at our first ever Y2K NIGHT! Dress up in your best Y2K attire and dance all night to your favorite pop hits from the the year 2000 and beyond, curated by a live DJ. Full bar available. Tickets $20, one drink included in your ticket! AGES 18+ ONLY.

FESTIVAL OF TREES RAFFLE EXTENDED THROUGH DECEMBER 16TH!
We are officially EXTENDING our Festival of Trees Raffle viewing period through Tuesday, December 16th! Stop by during any of the following times this week and next to check out the gorgeous trees we are raffling off this year, and to purchase tickets for a chance to win your own!

The Gallery will be open at the following times through the 16th: Tuesday through Friday (12/9-12/12) from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Saturday (12/13) from 10:30 am - 1:30 pm. Sunday (12/14) from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. Monday (12/15) & Tuesday (12/16) from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Raffle winners will be selected and contacted on Wednesday, December 17th.

Joy of Paint December Class Signups & Winter Watercolor Class Signups NOW OPEN!

Visit https://www.chelmsfordarts.org/ for tickets or more information.

Chelmsford Civics Academy

The Chelmsford Civics Academy is a new initiative designed to help residents learn more about how their local government works. Whether you’re interested in community involvement, public service, or simply want to understand the decisions that shape our town, this program offers a practical, hands-on overview of Chelmsford’s municipal operations. If you have any questions, please contact the Town Manager's Office at 978-250-5202 or email TMOffice@Chelmsfordma.gov.

Applications are being accepted through December 23rd for participation in the Town’s first Civics Academy. The eight-week program will take place on Tuesday evenings beginning on January 27th through March 31st. The sessions will take place at various municipal buildings across the community. The on-line application and more information is Available Here.
The class schedule can be found here: Civics Academy Schedule

Give Blood or Platelets and Give Patients Time this Holiday Season
Amazon Gift Card or new long-sleeve tee for coming to give in December

BOSTON, Dec. 8, 2025 — Time is critical for patients this December. The American Red Cross urges donors to make an appointment to give blood or platelets now to keep the blood supply steady over the busy holiday season. Types O positive, O negative and B negative blood donors are especially needed now and in the coming weeks.
December is National Month of Giving, and your Red Cross blood or platelet donation can bring hope and healing. Create a new holiday tradition and help spread comfort and support lifesaving care. When the unexpected happens, it’s the blood products already on the shelves that matter.
Redefine the meaning of a gift bag; give something that means something and schedule a blood or platelet donation appointment by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
For a limited time, those who come to give Dec. 8-18, 2025, will receive a $15 Amazon Gift Card by email. Those who come to give Dec. 19, 2025-Jan. 4, 2026, will receive an exclusive Red Cross long-sleeved T-shirt, while supplies last. For details on December offers, see RedCrossBlood.org/Gifts. If you’re unable to give, consider making a financial donation to support our lifesaving mission at redcross.org.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Dec. 8-31, 2025:

Chelmsford
12/27/2025: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Aldersgate United Methodist, 242 Boston Rd.

North Chelmsford
12/9/2025: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Chelmsford American Legion, 90 Groton Road
12/23/2025: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Chelmsford American Legion, 90 Groton Road

Fresh Start Furniture Bank

Welcome to winter! The volunteers at Fresh Start on Tuesday morning arrived with the first snow of the season. Fortunately, it was not enough to necessitate closing. We had four client visits scheduled but three cancelled because of the weather. We met our new volunteer & administrative coordinator and look forward to working together. As we worked, sorting linens, cleaning and testing lamps and small appliances, unloading and loading furniture, and entering items into inventory we shared thoughts about our Thanksgiving celebrations and the Patriots win.
Four (!) trucks arrived filled with linens and blankets and comforters from the Hudson and Marlborough Lions Clubs who did a blanket drive for us. Our crew couldn’t get through it all today to make an accurate count. What a wonderful “Giving Tuesday” gift!

An inventory check showed some gaps in our supplies. We need new bed pillows and mattresses and box springs for our clients. Also rugs and dressers. We seem to always be low on kitchen items like silverware, non-slotted spoons, measuring cups and spoons, strainers, vegetable peelers, tongs, can openers and whisks.

Please check our website to learn more about our organization and help us to help others. We love cash donations to pay the rent and keep the truck fueled! We accept small donations on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9 until noon. Furniture donations as well as household items can be brought on Saturday mornings from 8:30-10:30(furniture)and until noon for small items. We are located at 16 Brent Drive in Hudson. Check us out!

Beacon Santa Needs Your Help!

It is a magical time of year – lights shining bright, ornaments glistening on Christmas trees, and Santa visiting throughout the area.

But for many people, the holiday magic is fraught with anxiety, and they have reached out to the Beacon Santa for help in providing a little Christmas cheer.

And so, we are reaching out – asking you to help us. Please consider donating this year – every little bit helps.

One mother writes that she is struggling to make ends meet, especially after her children’s father died in June. “I am worried that I will not be able to provide my children with a Christmas they deserve because there simply is not anything left for gifts and holiday extras after covering basic needs. I do my best to keep things stable for my children, but the holidays can be especially hard. Your generosity would make a world of difference for my children,” she writes.

One mother struggling to leave an abusive husband is asking for help for three of her five children this year. “I am hoping the holiday season with all its magic of Santa will bring them joy, laughter and smiles during this tough time. I don’t think I will be able to afford gifts under the tree this year and I don’t want to see disappointment and more sadness, so I am reaching out for help,” she writes.

The Beacon Santa Fund, which originated in 1965, raises money to give holiday gift cards to families in 12 communities: Acton, Boxborough, Billerica, Bedford, Concord, Chelmsford, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Maynard, Stow, and Westford.

Beacon Santa turns once again to its readers, without whose generosity some families will not receive holiday help. Donations are tax deductible, of course.

A final note, so that would-be donors can feel assured that their good intentions actually do good. The Board of Directors are all volunteers. Donations are intended entirely to help families in need; no funds are ever diverted for member stipends or salaries.

How to donate
By mail: Beacon Santa Fund, c/o Middlesex Savings Bank, Maynard Crossing, 7 Digital Way, Maynard, MA 01754
By mail: Beacon Santa Fund, PO Box 643, Maynard, MA 01754
Online: Through PayPal, https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1541809. A PayPal account is not needed to donate.
New this year, you can donate with Venmo: @beaconsanta1965

New Tutors Trained in Wayland Library’s ESOL Program

Immigrants in our area who want to improve their competency in English now have greater opportunities. Fourteen generous and enthusiastic people have just completed a training course and are now certified to be tutors of ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages). These recent “graduates” include seven from Wayland – Lois Bruss, Sue Feldman, Lidet Girma, John Mead, Dona Mitra, Clinton Savidge and Wendy Sobel; one from Sudbury – Carol Abbot; one from Natick – Ginit Marten; one from Acton – Louisa Chase, one from Wellesley – Jackie Leung: one from Waltham - Mimi Facher; one from Carlisle - Kathy Wasserman; and one from Marlborough - Luba Robidoux. These new tutors, like those who were trained last spring, and some who have been tutoring for years, work one-to-one with learners. Learners currently working with our tutors have come from many different countries, including Korea, Ukraine, Brazil, Bolivia, Mexico, Latvia, Turkey and China.
Much tutoring is now done remotely, using whatever technology works for both tutor and learner, be it FaceTime, Skype, Zoom or simply phone and email. Some tutor/learner pairs work in person, typically in a local library.
As usual, we can put all possible tutors to work with waiting learners. The next two tutor-training courses have been scheduled: one starting in January and one starting in early March. Tutors do not need to know another language, nor do they need to know every detail of English grammar. For more information see the Wayland Library website.

Worcester Chamber Music SocietyPresents Annual Free Family Concert March 8

Boston CASA Seeks Volunteers to Advocate for Foster Youth in Suffolk and Middlesex Counties

NASHOBA SYMPHONIC BAND FEATURES TRUMPET RHAPSODY

Worcester Chamber Music Society Presents February 1 Concert in Worcester

Upcoming Events at 19 Carter - A Nonprofit and Unique Gathering Place in Berlin, MA

17th Annual UCC Boxborough Folk Coffeehouse

Summer Camp & Kids Activities Fair in Westford on February 7

Divorce Support Group by Remote Meeting

Free Help Filing Your Taxes

Fresh Start Furniture Bank

Upcoming Events at the CCA

Westford Chorus Presents a Program of "Members' Favorites" February 1

A Benefit Concert for the Purchase of a New Organ

On Bleecker Street: A Simon & Garfunkel Tribute Saturday, February 7th

The Chelmsford Republican Town Committee is Hosting:

$200,000 GLCF Emergency Food Grants Reach 80,000+ Residents as Organizations Report Unprecedented Demand

What Families in Massachusetts Should Know About Their School Options

Tom Denney Nature Camp Register Now!

Groton Grange Contra Dance February 7, 2026

Nashoba Valley Neighbors Event on January 24

Habitat for Humanity NCM Celebrates Home Dedication in Leominster

Divorce Support Group by Remote Meeting

Help Support People Affected by Domestic Violence in Our Communities

Sing & Dance at Suzanne Buell’s PCA Gospel Connection 1/17

Upcoming Events at the CCA

Prevent a Winter Blood Shortage: Give Blood or Platelets Now

The Acton Community Chorus Presents Our Winter Concert, I Hear The Stars Still Singing

Psychosis Program

Motor Development in Babies 0-18 Months

Divorce Support Group by Remote Meeting

Upcoming Events at the CCA

NASHOBA VALLEY CHORALE 50TH ANNIVERSARY WINTER CONCERT

Blood Drive

Christmas Eve Services at Aldersgate UMC

Chelmsford Food Pantry Christmas Week Hours

Discovery Museum Announces Free Events for Visitors with Disabilities and theirFamilies for January to June 2026

HAPPY Holidays from Fresh Start Furniture Bank

Groton Grange Contra Dance January 3, 2026

Beacon Santa Needs Your Help!

Night Lights Voted #1 Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights Display in the Country!

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts & Gillette Bring “Mentorship in Action” Flag Football Event to Inspire New Mentoring Relationships

Red Cross Responds to Multiple Fires Across MassachusettsDuring Busy Holiday Weekend

Upcoming Events at the CCA

Chelmsford Civics Academy

Give Blood or Platelets and Give Patients Time this Holiday SeasonAmazon Gift Card or new long-sleeve tee for coming to give in December

Fresh Start Furniture Bank

Beacon Santa Needs Your Help!

New Tutors Trained in Wayland Library’s ESOL Program

Divorce Support Group by Remote Meeting

Worcester Chamber Music Society
Presents Annual Free Family Concert March 8

Discovery Museum Announces Free Events for Visitors with Disabilities and their
Families for January to June 2026

Red Cross Responds to Multiple Fires Across Massachusetts
During Busy Holiday Weekend

Give Blood or Platelets and Give Patients Time this Holiday Season
Amazon Gift Card or new long-sleeve tee for coming to give in December